1. Interview 1: Teresa Solano
"my son-in-law came over to paint my apartment after my unemployed husband took his life"
- Continuous lack of unemployment in Raval has caused negative effects not only in economic
terms but also can cause serious psychological problems.
- Psychological problems then add to lack of job creation
- Lack of job creation leads to greater crime and potentially to substance abuse
- This is a vicious circle that is hard to break
"Even though there are organizations that are willing to help, sometimes I don't get the aid
package that I'm supposed to"
- A lack of volunteers has not resulted in a dependable food supply for whose who are expecting it.
- This uncertainty has caused anxiety and added to stress
Other factors:
1) low social interaction leads to feelings of isolation
2) crime and noise at night causes
3) no sense of ownership in neighborhood, lack of community
4) civic leaders have not shown appropriate counseling and motivational support - poor advice
given has caused even furthered feeling of uncertainty and depression
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2. Interview 2: Armando (bar owner)
The biggest problem is a lack of solidarity
- He said that people in the past would be happy to help others. Growing up in the neighborhood, he is sad that
the close ties between people has been severed.
- As people continue to immigrate to Raval, this has led to the formation micro-communities and groups of
immigrants are keeping to themselves.
The crime level has gotten really bad.... I've seen it all - muggings, prostitution, drug dealing, robberies -
right in front of my shop.
- Crime has not solely been by immigrants, the locals have turned to this as well which has been worsened due to
lack of job creation.
- This unsafe setting does not provide an attractive environment for entrepreneurs to open new businesses.
I'm afraid to say it out loud, but many drug dealers operate in this building and next door.
- As this has been a long term problem, there is a very established crime network that people have learned to turn a
blind eye because they know there be retaliations for turning criminals in.
- With so many people involved in crime, people don't know who they can trust. This adds to a lack of community.
Other factors:
1) He doesn't trust anyone, so he only employs family
2) There has been a large increase in the number of people that don't speak Spanish
3) The aging local population and lack of job creation for youth creates a large dislocation in a stable local economy
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3. Key Takeaways
Main issues:
1) Increased levels of immigrants has led to a fragmented community, and there had been little integration of various
ethnic groups
2) lack of formal jobs has resulted in people turning to other sources of income - such as organized crime.
3) Long term lack of job creation and increased crime levels had led to increased levels of psychological discontent and
depression.
4) As these issues continue, it is hard to volunteers and community leaders to inspire residents and create change
5) Current volunteers continue to see there serious issues faced in Raval and there is a large need for more volunteers, but
recruiting has been difficult.
Focus Points: In order to break the vicious circle, alternative methods of inspiration need to be
created.
1) Volunteers should organize activities for elderly people in community centers (e.g. domino games, card games,
handcrafts, etc.) to foster the sense of community. In time activities can be joined by people from other age groups.
2) People have to regain the confidence in their skills. The NGO should encourage Raval inhabitants to be more
active (an unemployed person will receive a food parcel if he/she delivers a package to another person). This will allow
people to feel needed and allow them to enjoy helping others.
3) recruit volunteers from universities who are willing to work in long term social empowerment projects with the
people. This way college students get involved with the community and the community takes part in its own
development.
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